Botanical
garden Dr Alfredo Marín Barrier, began in 1984, as an answer to the accelerated
disturbance that was being made on the vegetation of the state of Quintana Roo,
mainly in the North zone. In 1990, with the support of the National Council
of Science and Technology (CONACYT) and of the Government of the State, it was
inaugurated and opened to the public, with the name of the "Dr Alfredo
Marín Barrier", in honor to the Mexican scientist, who dedicated
great part from his life to the study and rescue the knowledge that is contained
in the natural surroundings of the Mayan Yucatan Peninsula.

The garden exists of 60 hectares of natural vegetation, one of greatest of
the country. In the garden two types of vegetation can be seen, the medium
subperenifolia forest and mangrove. To count on this vegetation in the garden
is truly important, since in the two recent decades a large part of grounds
of the state, that were covered by the forests, has diminished considerably
due to natural phenomena like hurricanes and fires and by the direct action
of mankind. Being a natural garden, it also it acts like a refuge for the
wild fauna; for that reason it is common to observe iguanas, abundant migratory
and resident birds, and troops of spider monkeys.

The objective of the garden is to undertake scientific research on the conservation
and advantages of the vegetation resources of the region, fundamentally, the
native ones of Quintana Roo. Also the promotion of education and diffusion
of vegetal and cultural resources is one of the aims of the garden. And last
to foment the recreation and the tourism.

The types of vegetation are medium forest Subperennifolia. It's basic characteristic
is that from the 25 to 50 % of it's species lose their leaves during the dry
time of the year. Their floristic composition is around 300 species. The vegetation
displays two arboreal layers (one superior one of 15 to 25 m, and another
inferior one, of up to 10 m), one arbustivo and another herbaceo, made up
mainly of young plants of arboreal and trepadoras species. The presence of
ligneous trepadoras is well-known.

Mangrove
The predominant species of mangrove vegetation is mangle red Rizophora mangle
. Its vegetal cover is quite dense.

Epifitario
Plants that live on the trunks and branches on the trees without damaging
them, serve to them solely as support. They emphasize in this collection
the orquídeas and bromelias.

Succulent
Plants that are characterized by their heavy and fleshy stems, and the majority
presents/displays a strong frame of thorns, emphasizes in this collection
cactaceous and the agavaceas ones.

Medicinal plants
Plants used traditionally by the man. This collection contains 56 species
organized according to the common diseases of the human body as they are:
respiratory, digestive, urinary, dermatológicas diseases, among others.
As examples we can mention, to the mint, the penny royal, the toronjil,
marijuana lemon, the heavy oregano, the robust one, the basil, the belladona,
sabila, etc.

Ornamentales plants
This collection still this in formation process, conforms wild and cultivated
species that mainly emphasizes by the beauty of their leaves and flowers.

It
is an area destined for the investigation and conservation of the flora and
fauna resources. In the wild vegetation in its natural conditions can be appreciated.
It can be crossed through a footpath of 2 km.

Within the garden, are several Mayan plinths denominated "the Altar",
that chronological correspond to the postclasic tardio (1400 D.C.).

In this Area plants of the region propagate, mainly endemic, rare, threatened
and in extinction danger. Part of the production is used in gardening and
reforestation, and some are sold for the maintenance and operation of the
JB.

The wild fauna is diverse and interesting, being frequent the visit of monkey
herds spider, also has detected the presence of great felines like the jaguar,
puma and ocelote, ademas of other animals like iguanas, snakes, vixens, cereques,
hocofaisan, tejones, hormigero bear among others. A great diversity of insects,
and abundant migratory and resident birds exists.